Public attitudes toward psychiatric community care

Two decades after the Psychiatric Enqu (e) over cap te the public attitude towards psychiatric care of the mentally ill is still characterized by turmoil of emotions. Verbally expressed tolerance and acceptance by the public often turn into decisive hostility where personal interests are jeopardized. As the influence of the media on changing public attitude is often being overestimated personal contact with the mentally ill as well as the involvement of opinion leaders and gate keepers are more promising in influencing this. However not all judgements on psychiatric care are based on prejudice but eventually shaped by objective negative experiences. Thus improvement of psychiatric care is an absolutely necessary prerequisite for attitudinal change.